I said I'd show how to refresh/renew the odometer numerals, so here we go. First, please don't use any of the so-called decals sold by any of the aftermarket vendors. Nothing against the sellers of these, but my experience is you won't be happy. Instead invest in some printable waterslide decal paper. You can buy this in 4 varieties: inkjet clear, inkjet white, laser clear and laser white. You can not print white with any printer except the horribly expensive ones I doubt many people have access to, so the answer for decals needing white is to use white paper and then print on top of it. IMPORTANT NOTE: if you use an inkjet printer and inkjet paper, you must coat the printed part with clear lacquer, urethane, enamel or it will disappear when you immerse the decal in water. Just as a matter of habit, I will also spray clear on the laser printed ones. Another note: the decal I've created for the odometer numerals isn't perfect. Perfection doesn't exist with something like this, but mine is pretty good and probably good enough. If you want it, send a PM with your email address and I'll send you a printable Microsoft Word document with that decal template on it (which you can print to your waterslide decal paper.
Remove the wheel assembly by removing the brass clip you find opposite the 1/10 mile wheel, slide the assembly to one side and then out. Clean the assembly carefully with a paper towel and some naphtha to remove any oil/wax, etc. Then very carefully cut the 1/10 numerals off of the decal sheet, making certain to keep a straight line on the sides and at the top. In the first image below you see the decal sheet I've made before I cut it. In the second image, you can see I've done the 1/10 mile wheel (the black one with white numerals). You may look at the numbers and think "gee, that looks pretty good. Wonder why he's renewing it?" Well, you can't see where the numbers sat in one place for years and were bleached to almost nothing by the sun. Start lining up with 0 and work carefully around. You'll get the hang of the waterslide decal stuff after a bit. It isn't difficult and it isn't like the heavy gelatin stuff we knew in the 50s and 60s. Today's paper is very thin but works well...if you do it right. Make certain your numbers line up with the old ones as much as possible. Then set this aside for a few minutes to dry a bit. Maybe 10 minutes. Long enough to have a cup of tea. Now trim the first of the actual mileage number strips off and repeat the process as you see I've done in the second image below. Then continue to the next row as I've done in the third image and in the fourth image you'll see I've done all of the wheels. Now I'll take the assembly outside and set it in the sunshine where it can really dry out for an hour or so. Then, reverse the procedure you used to remove the wheel assembly (being very careful to insert the slotted tabs on the metal edge there) and re-install the clip. Your unit ought to look like you see in the fifth image, which at this point is about as good as I can offer on renewal of these numerals. Good luck.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
